San Jose State University : Undergraduate Studies

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photo: Ceasar Chavez Park Water Fountains

Humanities

Department Goals

  1. Investigate topics using interdisciplinary approaches;
  2. Appreciate, understand and celebrate diversity, while knowing how to identify and bracket one’s own cultural bias;
  3. Think critically and creatively, without fear to question authority and to express rational skepticism;
  4. Understand creations of the human imagination and intellect;
  5. Synthesize various forms of knowledge to solve aesthetic, social and cultural problems;
  6. Read, write and speak as members of the educated public and as citizens unafraid to face controversy;
  7. Develop and integrate performance and research skills;
  8. Become concerned and involved citizens, speaking on controversial issues and acting to influence the course of history.

Humanities BA Learning Objectives

  1. Be able to use interdisciplinary methods for the study of culture(s), involving disciplines as diverse as archeology, art history, comparative religion, literature, music history, philosophy, and political theory.
  2. Become skilled in the expression (written and verbal) of the results of interpretation, analysis, synthesis, and argument of ideas in the works of major authors and artists.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of available and relevant information resources.
  4. Describe the role, impact and ethical implications of ideas, texts, social movements, contemporary situations, and creations of the human imagination.
  5. Exhibit a personal critical perspective and a sense of intellectual independence.
  6. Show one understands the importance of scholarly research and demonstrate appropriate research skills for humanistic studies of culture.
  7. Describe processes of cultural formation, historical development, and social change for a particular world area (e.g., America, East Asia, or Europe).
  8. Explain how current events and contemporary issues can be better understood with knowledge of the historical and cultural background of a particular world area (e.g., America, East Asia, or Europe).

 

Assessment of Student Learning

Schedule (doc)

Spring 2007 Report (doc)        Fall 2007 Report  (doc)

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